MPG and running costs

Revisions in 2014 were implemented to improve the Sportage’s efficiency compared to newer rivals, but they only achieved so much. The lowest emitting car in the range is the 114bhp 1.7 CRDi front-wheel drive model with a combined economy figure of 54.3mpg and emissions of 135g/km. That’s achieved with the help of a stop-start system, which switches off the engine when it would otherwise be idling at standstill. Given a Nissan Qashqai 1.5 dCi 110 can offer a combined economy figure of 74.3mpg and emissions of 99g/km, that’s some way off the pace, particularly when you consider that the same, most parsimonious Qashqai matches the Sportage 1.7 CDTi’s 11.9-second 0-62mph time.

That gap is largely echoed across the entire Sportage range, the Kia not able to match its newer rivals when it comes to consumption and emissions. Add the six-speed automatic to the AWD 2.0-litre CRDi engine and things get worse too, it seeing the most powerful Sportage diesel’s economy decrease from 46.3- to 39.2mpg, and emissions rise from 158- to 189g/km - that’s bettered by a big, heavy, full-sized SUV like the Range Rover TDV6…

Subscribe to evo magazine

Subscribe today to have every issue of evo delivered straight to you. You'll SAVE 39% on the shop price, and get evo for its original cover price for a whole year!

Sign up for our newsletter

Get regular updates, news and top reviews.

The Sportage does at least counter with a sizeable standard equipment list, while Kia’s standard seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty gives buyers real peace of mind. Kia offers inexpensive servicing plans too, with the first three for £329 or a five-service pack for £609.